Q&A: 55th Assembly District candidates Nate Gustafson, Stefanie Holt list abortion rights, inflation as top issues ahead of Nov. 8 election
Sophia VoightWinnebago County Board member Nate Gustafson and former Neenah School Board member Stefanie Holt will face each for the 55th Assembly District in the Nov. 8 election.
The Republican Gustafson and Democrat Holt are looking to take over the district that covers northern Winnebago County after Rep. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton, decided to run for the state Senate's 19th District seat.
The Post-Crescent asked each candidate to fill out a questionnaire before the election explaining why they are running and their positions on issues. Some responses were lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
For information about registering to vote and polling locations, visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov.
Nate Gustafson
- Age: 27
- Occupation: System analyst
- Highest level of education: Associate degree in cyber security
- Relevant experience: Winnebago County Board member for District 28
- Campaign website and Facebook page: www.Gus4.us, Facebook.com/Gus4Us
Stefanie Holt
- Age: 56
- Occupation: Self-employed strategy consultant
- Highest Level of education: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with master of business administration, emphases in finance and multinational enterprise
- Relevant experience: Roles in hospitality service, agriculture and financial services; 17 years at Kimberly-Clark in finance, manufacturing, strategy and innovation, and leadership; three years at Thrivent Financial in business architecture; over three years as a small business owner; former Neenah Sustainability Committee member and board member and treasurer of Neenah Joint School District.
- Campaign website and Facebook page: www.HoltForWisconsin.com, Facebook.com/HoltForWisconsin
Why are you running for office?
Gustafson: I want to give my time and talent back to the district that gave so much to me. I have lived here my entire life and know firsthand what is important to the constituents like less taxation, accessible and affordable health care, and living in a safe community.
Holt: I can negotiate with others to get to “yes” so that Wisconsin can move forward. I will represent and be accountable to the people of our district. I am concerned that women’s rights have been stripped and access to contraceptives is threatened. On July 21 every GOP member of Congress from Wisconsin opposed federal legislation protecting access to contraceptives demonstrating the GOP’s extreme position on women’s reproductive health care.
What makes you the better candidate in this race?
Gustafson: My perspective as a young, conservative adult that is underrepresented down in Madison. It's time the next generation steps up and leads through complex issues of today and paves the path of the future.
Holt: I served three years as an elected official. My experience in corporate and small businesses, nonprofit consulting, business ownership and home ownership differentiates me. I read state statutes to inform school district policies. I take seriously my responsibility to represent the district and seek diverse viewpoints of concerns.
What is the most pressing issue facing Wisconsin, and how would you address it?
Gustafson: Inflation and cost of living. We need to reduce or eliminate particular taxes as well as get the out-of-control spending in our state under control. We need to return as much money back to Wisconsinites as they know how to spend it best for their households.
Holt: Wisconsin’s 1849 abortion ban puts women at risk of adverse health consequences due to penalties imposed on physicians providing reproductive health care and appears to require a woman to carry to term a pregnancy resulting from rape and incest.
What should Wisconsin do to protect the democratic process and ensure the integrity of its elections?
Gustafson: It's quite simple: Enforce the laws on the books like voter ID requirements and ensure loopholes, such as those in the absentee voting process, are closed.
Holt: Threats to our democracy include unproven claims of voter fraud, lies about voting technology, reducing access to the polls, removing polling locations, removing voters from voter rolls, creating alternate slates of electors and removing ballot drop boxes. Significantly gerrymandered districts have politicians who are not accountable to their voters and yet are able to hold power. Democracy is how we solve problems in our state and country. If elected, I would propose and/or support legislation that would require maps to be drawn by a nonpartisan commission and Wisconsin Election Commission audits to ensure free and fair elections.
Would you vote to repeal Wisconsin’s ban on abortions, or to add exemptions to the law, such as for rape and incest victims?
Gustafson: I will stand by the current law that protects life.
Holt: I would vote to repeal Wisconsin’s ban on abortions. I believe any health care decision, including reproductive health care, should be between Wisconsin residents and their health care providers, with freedom from government interference. The best way to reduce abortion is to provide access to contraceptives and health education. If access to contraceptives is impeded, illegal and unsafe abortions will increase. In the most recent 20 years, abortions in Wisconsin decreased 40%.If the definition of personhood includes embryos, other statutes will require updating, including child support.
What should state government do about gun violence and crime in Wisconsin?
Gustafson: Enforcing the rule of law is a great start. Second, we need to ensure violent criminals are not gaining access to firearms nor getting out on little to no bail. Lastly, we need to protect the rights of individuals to bear arms through constitutional carry.
Holt: The first would be to ensure municipalities have adequate funding for mental health, social work, police, fire, EMS and 911. Second would be to ensure that public schools, universities and technical colleges are supported to innovate in partnership with the community. The state government has reduced or stagnated direct funding to counties, municipalities, public schools, universities and technical colleges. In 2021, 45% of Wisconsin homes had at least one gun. I would support implementing reasonable gun reform such as a “red flag law” (and universal background checks. Responsible gun owners agree that these are reasonable reforms.
Would you support policy initiatives to address the impact of climate change in Wisconsin?
Gustafson: Policies that encourage the free market to promote innovative solutions for clear air and water should be priority. We need to leverage emerging technology to achieve that. Everyone deserves clear air and water.
Holt: To address the impacts of climate change, ensuring clean drinking water for all Wisconsinites would be my priority. PFAS, disposed medicines and microplastics are found in our drinking water and are difficult to filter out of municipal water systems and wells. We need to innovate in water treatment to ensure our supply and reduce pollution. I will work with manufacturers to reduce pollution and exposure to Wisconsinites. Next, I would confirm sources of methane in our state and ensure we are innovating to reduce methane production or encourage area businesses to use it as a fuel source for manufacturing.
How should state government help Wisconsin residents combat the effects of inflation?
Gustafson: First, the federal government is solely responsible for inflation and because of that we have little directly we can do to change it besides lobbying Congress on behalf of our constituents. What we can do, though, is reduce or eliminate some taxes and return the overwhelming surplus back to taxpayers.
Holt: Temporary tax holidays and increased minimum wage are two changes that can have an immediate impact on Wisconsin residents and improve quality of life. Our state statutes must be updated to reflect changes in our economy, as wages change. Based on the 2020 census, median Wisconsin household income is $5,300 (a month). Affordable housing is defined as housing costing no more than 30% of monthly income. An average mortgage or rental payment should be no greater than $1,500. In the Fox Valley, rentals between $800-$1,200 and homes under $160,000 are sought and in short supply.
Sophia Voight can be reached at svoight@postcrescent.com. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_voight.